Continuous strip coating machine



March 25, 1941. BRAUCHER 2,235,978

CONTINUOUS STRIP COATING MACHINE Filed Jan. 30, 1939 Sheets-Sheet l Q.jwuunfma Hme V5) M. 5951/0/52.

March 25, 1941. H M. BRAUCHER CONTINUOUS STRIP COATING MACHINE FiledJan. 50, 1939 s Shaets$heet 2 FIIINI l l l 1 I n Qwuwwtom March 25,1941., H. M. BRAUCHER CONTINUOUS STRIP COATING MACHINE Fi led Jan. :50,19:59

3 Sheets-Shoat 3 awuc/wtm C HE/EZ QVEV/W. Beau ii atcuted iii/liar, dd,lidl Harvey M. Braucher, Baltimore, Md I Application .l'anuary 3d, 1939,Serial No. 253,529

12 @laims.

This invention refers to the manufacture and production of metal plateand more particulariv to that of the manufacture of sheet steel platetreated to an exterior covering or coating of protective of neutralmaterial. It has among its objects to provide for the following list ofteatures:

To coat or treat either or both surfaces of a sheet platesimultaneously;

To have it feasible to have the coatings placed on the two surfacessimilar pr distinct, at the same time of the process;

To have it adaptable for the use of a great ileld of materials for suchcoatings on the surfaces;

To have the machine operate with continuous lengths of sheet plate asthey come off rolls, and treat them in such continuous lengths with thecoatings selected, and to have it arranged to apply such coatings in thedegree of thickness or application, as may be desired with certainty,predetermination, and uniformity;

To have arrangements for connecting lengths of the plate together insuch continuity as will provide for the use oi supplies of plate in.sequence, to suit the use of each supply and th tie-in of the new supplyindefinitely;

To avoid the need of shearing plates into limited sizes, for coatingpurposes, and to facilitate handling therefor;

To provide for the use of all kinds oi materials suitable for coatingsin any degree or sequence of application desirable or required, and oneither side of the sheet plate;

, To maize the application of coatings to the Ziti sheet plates aseconomical in the use of the coating material, as practical, byproviding for the recovery of the excess material used in the process,whether same be distributed in the air around the plates or applied tothe plate in the prior instance;

To provide for the permanent setting and covering of the surfaces to betreated by the provision of heating suitable to the worlr to be done andthe materials used, and the use of pressure to aiford thegreatest-intimate attachment of the coatings on the sheet plate;

To provide for the treatment of the sheet plate by a series and multipleapplication of materials, such as fluxes, metals, paints, lacquers,minerals,

50 liquids, etc. to suit the use to which the plate is to be put or theuseful life tenure of the same under varied conditions and situations,or the physical situations or stresses arising in its installation orstorage;

To provide for the use of minerals or synthetic iii] (Cl. hi -13)lubricants and oils for the making of tinned strip instead or palm oils,as well as during the application of zinc and other molten metals orsubstances;

To overcome the disadvantages inherent with a the dip processes andelectroplating methods;

To provide for the economical production of sheet metal with coatingsthereon, and in quantity lengths to suit extensive requirements;

To provide for inhibiting process where no 10 other preventativerequirements are involved;

To have means :ior heating the sheet plate to suit the application ofthe coatings before, during, or after such are made;

To provide arrangements for the inspection 15 of the material beingtreated during each portion of the production and the use of specialtreatment such as sand blasting, tempering, washing, and polishing;

rind another feature is to' provide for the efw ficieut application of aprotective covering on the sheet material without its being cold rolledor put through the usual finishing processes required in conventionalproduction. This takes advantage of the plate in such a condition tosuch" an extent 35 as to eliminate the need of its being cold rolled,and not affect coating values applied under the production methods ofthis invention; also to eliminate the temper-press operation nowconventionally used.

, 'Gther features and objects of this invention will become apparent asthe invention is more fully set iorth.

The conventional method of manufacturing steel plate and its finishingand coating has seri- 35 ous objections whlich unlimited experimentingand trial operations over a considerable period have not overcome. Someof the objectionable features include: the inevitable and unavoidableuse of palm oils for finishing sheet plate and use in moltenapplications; the unavoidable applica: tion of similar or same coatingsto both surfaces where the dip process is used: The limitedpossibilities and time interval objections required in electroplatingprocesses; and the necessity of cutting or shearing of the plate intorelatively small pieces where coatings are to be placed on thesheets;and the incidental handling, rolling, cleaning, skimming and extraprocesses required where coatings are to be put on in the conven- 59tional manner, The palm oils are necessary in the conventional processbecause of their heat characteristics, and they lessen the capacity ofthe sheet to talte molten coatings, and after application, such oilcoatings in excess have to be removed, a matter of some appreciabledifficulty. In this invention, not only is palm oil unnecessary, but canbe displaced with ordinary mineral oils, just as effectively, andconsiderably more economically. The usual processes of coating,especially with tin, are subject to pin-holes corrosion, and createconsiderable argument and discussion between the plate mills and theircustomers. The results of experiments and investigation of governmentaland private sources have established as a fact that this situationexists and results from the conventional system of coating steel by thedip process. This pin-hole corrosion has been found empirically to bepractically overcomeby the spraying process outlined in the descriptionof this invention, and the use of a sufiicient heat on the plate to makethe tin or coating used fasten intimately and securely to it. Thisheating for the purpose of facilitating the coating of this sheet metalwas not known before this invention by those versed in the art. Such amethod was not followed in the conventional processes. The heating,specifically for the purpose of improving the application and coveringby the coating materials is distinctly new and previously unpracticed inthis art. In addition,- this invention provides for the maximum intimateapplication of the coatings by subjecting them to high pressure duringthe application, causing the coating materials to enter among theexternal pores of the sheet metal and spread in and about same,overcoming the normal resistance and anticapillary action over thesurfaces, by reason of the pressure and the fineness of division of theapplied coatings. This action is so satisfactory that coatings may beapplied under the processes of this feature of the invention, to theplate as it comes from the primary rolling mills to give the plate acomplete finish. This avoids the customary necessity for cold rollingordinarily required to give the metal a finished appearance to meetcommercial requirements. In this invention, the prior heating of themetal to be coated and its use at that heat, for applying thecoating,-enables the metal to absorb the coating material and to squeezethe coating forced under pressure within its pores, throughout theexterior surface, makin a solid and complete covering, which the con--ventional methods do not attain. The conventional tinning methods do notprovide a uniform coating, and the usual commercial terms ofweight-per-base-box, will include a variation between considerablelimits, and the commercial world has to take it under such conditions.Thus, one pound per base box may have a tin content of from'one-and-aquarter to one-anda-half pounds per base box. The method used toincrease the tin content is very crude technically and is attained byspeeding the material of the sheet plate through the oil dip by means ofrolls and thereby decrease the effectiveness of the palm oil in takingthe tin coating metal off. The result is more or less dependent onguesswork, roll pressure, luck, or particular skill in the individualoperator. The spread of metallic tin over the surface by the usualmethod, at the same time, is not complete or efiicient, which fact ismade evident by the comparison of tin used for the process of thisinvention and that of the conventional process. The method of thisinvention uses about 25% to 30% less tin per base box and makes a moreintimate and complete coating over the plate. Comparison in wear andtear of the metal coated b the process of this invention during acomparative six month test under the same conditions, for both this andthe conventional process (the conditions providing a river bank locationsubject to weather and fresh and salt air dampness) indicated a completesurface corrosion action on the conventional plate, while anon-corrosive appearance was kept by the sample made under the processof this invention. The complete non-corrosion appearance continued for along period afterwards.

In the drawings, which illustrate by way of example, an embodiment ofthis invention:

Figure 1 is an isometric diagrammaticai view of a machine embodying thisinvention, with portions broken away to indicate the internalconstruction and operation, v

Figure 2 is a side elevationof a slightly modified form of theinvention,

Figure 3 is a detail view'in elevation of the tacker mechanism used inthe machine, I

Figure 4 is a detail view of a preferred form of sprayer used in themachine,

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail of the elevation of the machine with thespray chamber and fin-- isher room eliminated, to indicate the relativeform of the tacker, trimmer and supply roll,

Figure 6 is a plan detail of the supply roll used for delivering sheetplate, and with its braking arrangement,

Figure 7 is a detail of the roll post used in the rolls for winding andheating the sheet plate thereon,

Figure 8 is a diagram of electrical and mechanical operative connectionsof the machine.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout thedrawings.

In the construction shown in the drawings, the machine described in thisspecification consists in general of the following parts: delivery orsupply rolls l, on-Which the sheet metal plate 2 is contained forpassage through the machine;- a tacker mechanism or hydromatic spotwelder 3 for connecting the plate from different rolls into a continuoussheet, so no intervals or breaks will exist in the continuous flow ofsheet plate through the machine; a coating chamber 4, with single ormultiple sprayers 6 for delivering coatplate is wound up and made readyfor delivery or 'storage. Suitable guide rollers or bars 9 are providedat selected portions of the machine for guiding the material in apredetermined manner through the processes mentioned. Other rollers I0and H are disposed above and below the sheet or panel of metal plate onsuitable frames to hold same in position and prevent it from sagging orgetting outof line. These last mentioned rollers are situated invarioussuitable locations about the machine. Where the coatings requireit, sufficient additional compartments l2, l3 and l4 are provided in thecoating chambers, to take care of their specific requirements andprevent the undersirable intermixture of actions and ma terials thatmight cause objectionable effects.

This segregation of coating action is highly coatings differ from eachother, and have some relation. to thesequence of actions on the treatedPlate. J

The various operating'parts are suitably connectedup to gearing andtransmission for actua'ting them to'suit the movement of plate materialthrough the machine. The taeker, welder' or apparatus forv connectingthe sheet plates together is operated by the user, as the occasionnecessitates, or it may be done automatically by the device 15. Thetrimmer mechanismis /operated and cuts the sheets of plate as they passby it, at the times that the user so determines, and particularly whenit is necessary to disconnect two sheets that have been tacked together,

and are to. be diverted to'diiferent'receiving rolls.

a removable and may be lifted from the bases and placed therein,whenever such is desirable. The

rollers 9 are vertically arranged and rotatably held in place in theirbases 23 on the frame and in the upper journals 24. These journals aresecured to the side walls 2 of the tacker 3. The first set of rollersserve to guide the sheet plate to a slot or opening 26 in the enteringwall 21 of the sprayerchamber 4. The interior of the chamber 4 isdivided up as one compartment II or into several, l2, l3 and I, as thecasemay be,

to suit the type and number of coatings to be placed on the metal platepassing through. The compartments are provided with suitable sprayers 5or other equipment to spray, brush, or coat the material, and varyingaccording to the type and class of cleaner, paint, or coating materialused. The sprayers when used, are preferably of the metal spray Schooptype (U. S. 1,128,059) and set at an angle to the horizontal plane, andthe sprayer heads 28, tilted slightly in another angle and plane todirect the spray material against the plate on a slant and therebylessen the rebounding and piling up action of a direct spray on theplate material, and to cover a larger area per unit of coating,

The angular arrangement of the sprayers serves to provide a broaderspray across the plate I and to cover it more efficiently, using therubbing and running gravitational flow of the sprayer heads to join allthe individual areas sprayed together, in a complete coating area. Theplate proceeds through the chamber and passes through anopening 29 inthe rear wall 30 of the spray chamber. The under trough portion 3| ofthe spray charriber I is arranged to catch the excess coating materialflowing off the plate, and collect it in receptacles for such furtheruse as it may be fit for. This trough portion is preferably belowthe-floor level and is secured to the frame in a suitable manner; Thepiping 35 removes'the coating material from the receptacles underneathand conducts the excess coating ma- A compressed air pump or otherpressure system provides the necessary force to ejectthe material ontothe plate with sufllcient action to coat it properly.

The plate 2, passes through the spray chamber,

and is directed by the secondary rollers O adja cent to the opening orslot 31 in the wall 38 in h I 2,285,978 important where'the function andpurpose of, the

means ll to dry, or finish of! the the finisher room. The finisher roomis provided or drying oatings that have been placed on the plate,whether on one side surface or the other or both. The slot or opening 4|inthe rear wall 42 of the finisher room enables the plate to proceed outof the with electrical heaters 39, brusheg,

finisher room to the gripper mechanism H, which frictionally engagesagainst the coated finished :surface of the plate and ,pulls itthroughpnder the tension, caused by the resistance to the movement ofth'eplate and its supply rolls], and the use of an adjustablebrakemechanism '43 on the removable base on the same. The grippers, ortypical pinch rolls are preferably mounted on the structure 44 ofthe'trimmer, and'have shafts with gearing 46, 45 thereon to revolvethem, as well as a suitable resilient pressurel'inechanism 41 fortightening on the plate to suit the pressure required, and when it isneeded; last me!)- tioned mechanism is adapted to release itself fromthe plate when such is decidedirpon. The trimmer 5 is secured to theframe of the machine and is designed with a shearing member or typicalguillotine blade 48, which cuts the coated plate at the end of its runand at selected times. The

mechanism 49 operates the shearing member in conjunction with the othermechanism, cooperatively with the continuous movement of the plate. Therolls 8 are mounted onthe frame r0130 receive the coated plate as itleaves the trimmer and are rotated by the shafts 22 inserted in thebases I8 to wind the finished plate thereonp The bases have peripheralgearing l9 which engage with the spur gear 20 connected on the commongears and shafts 54 of the machine, These rolls may be readily removedwith their shafts by lifting same off the base.

The supply roll shafts or posts 22 are each provided with an internalheating element 58, which is connected with a source of electricity Band control switches A in the conventional manner.

shown diagrammatically in the drawing, which it is believed make suchconnections obvious. Similarly, in the tacker mechanism 3, there is aheating element 35 which also is'connected up and controlled suitably atA; A heating element 16 is installed in the finisher chamber and ifdesired, another in the spray chamber. These heating elements are'forthe purpose of heating the sheet metal plate as it enters intothetacker, sprayer chamber and finisher room respectively,

and are used for keeping the material at the temperature best suited forthe treatment about to be given the sheet metal and the substances usedfor coating same. This is so that the proper reaction will transpire inthe use of the latter with regard to the plate, and particularly, willafford the proper and adequate coating on the plate,

The manner in which the device l5 operates, provides for closing thecircuit to the indicated so1.e noids'and electrodes of the tacker when adouble sheet of metal is passed through the same and comes in contactwith the device or switch l5 at a suitable point of travel. Its locationbeing determined by the taclring or welding operation of the tackermechanism on the double sheets when the new sheet plate is to beattached to the old one already passing through the machine. The trimmer5 is also provided with an automatic solenoid and switch 52 that makescontact and operates the shear when the double connection of plates'reaches itand\passes-..through to the rolls 8. The switch is providedwith the necessary circuits" to provide the electric current to thechamber'and out of the. slot 29 in the rear wall 88, thence through thesecondary'guide rollers 9 to the slot 31, in the wall 38, of thefinisher room. In this portion of the machine the plate is dried orfinished to suit the coatings L placed upon it by the sprayers in thespray chambers and from thence it passes to the gripper rolls H. Theletterpress against the material and pull ittowards them, forcing sameto the trimmer mechanism and receiving rolls 8. As the plate unwindsnear the end of a roll I, the sheet plate from another similar roll Iplaced adjacent to the first, is brought close to the first plate andthrough the operation of the mechanism andelectrodes 56 and 51respectively, is tack welded tothe first plate. The first platecontinues and carries along the new plate attached to it, whichpassesthrough the processes just described. When the joint reaches thetrimmer, the shearing mechanism ofthe same through its automatic switch52, is operated and,

' trims oil the end of the new plate, and allows the 'nickel, nickelsilver, steel, tin and zinc, using the lar substances on the sheet plateeither at the old plate to wind up on its receiving roll 8. The newplate is then propelled through the action of the gripping rolls i7, andthe non-operation of the trimmer, through to an empty roll 8 waiting toreceive it. The new plate is fastened to the new roll 8, and the latteris revolved to take thetreated plate comingthrough the machine, withoutthe interruption or stopping of the machine. J

j The post 22 of the rolls is arranged with a slot 88 for mechanicallyholding the end portion of the roll at the start of winding, and'thebottom portion is squared off as indicated to fit securely in the baseof the roll, to cause itto lock in and rotate with the latter in itsoperation. The post may be removed at any time, and enables rolls to beplaced on or taken of! the bases of the rolls l and 8'with a completecomplement of sheet metal and do so with a certain amount of facility.

The purpose of the sprayer coatings is to cover or anticipate theefiects or atmospheric conditions protection against high temperatures;provide coatings to provide conductivity or resistivity; to overcomedefects and unevenness of surfaces, to make decorative effects; makefire resisting; overcome the actions and reactions of immersed or liquidcorrosion, and to apply superior, or high cost metals and substances tolow 'cost base sheet metal. Some of the applications feasible with thismachine are, coatings of aluminum, bronze, cadmium, copper lead, monel,

sprayers of the Schoop type. Other sprays of the compressed: air orpressure liquid type can, apply coatings of paint, asbestos, oils,Celluloid, sand, etc. The application of coatings may be done in lightlayers or built up layers, in accordance with'the requirements or needsin every case, and arrangements made to fix the particusame time or insubsequent steps in the process.

ture up to the point of deposit.

In theordinary manner of treating steel plate with tin, the process usesa thin layer 01 zinc chloride floating on top of a batch ot'tin, kept ata temperature of about 570 F. in a form of holding box that permits theplacing of palm oil on top of the tin directly, away from the zincchloride. The cold sheet metal is passed through the zinc chloride firstand is cleanedoi. Ldirt etc. and acts as a flux, so as to leave a cleansurface for the tin to contact with. It then passes tin in the manneralready explained. When the through 'the tin, and is coated with same,and then through the palm oil which removes excess tin contacts thesteel plate, it alloys with the same close to its eternal skin,according to the general accepted theory on the subject, and this ismainly due to the temperature to which the steel has been raised passingthrough the extra hot tin, and the temperature of the tin. Without thishigh and equal temperature of'the steel plate, there would be no properconnection between the steel and the tin. The melting point of tin isabout 446 F. and this increase of tema perature and heat enables it toheat the incoming steel to'the proper temperature and although it ispartially chilled by doing 'so, such reduction in heat andtemperaturebrings it down to its melting temperature and allows it to combine anddeposit on the steel. In the process of this invention, the heatingelements indicated and used before spraying bring the steel to thedesired temperature with or without recourse to the use of the heat inthe metal of deposit, and this direct heating is preferable in the work,and the deposited metal, from-the sprayer makes a similar alloyingconnection with the plate in a more direct manner.

The Schoop sprayer used is preferably in a modified and improved form,using an electric heater instead of the oxyacetylene gas or similartype, and is the subject of another invention of the applicant, andarranged to keep the molten spraying metal at a high and meltingtempera- The advantage of the process using the sprayers in this manneris obvious, in that it causes an actual definite combining of thesprayed metal with the base metal in addition to the sticking featurealready explained, and is important in making a more completesuperficial and intimate contact between both.

In the modified form shown in Figure 2, the spray chamber is indicatedwi-th'a plurality of partitions adapted to divide the chamber into aplural number of chambers l2,-l3 and H, to enable the ooatings'to beplaced to meet conditions wheremore than-one spraying or coating isnecessary or desirable. The manner of using the finisher or dryroom,.will depend on the processes of coatings. In some cases, thecoatings may be baked on, in others-brushed, in others the plate may bewashed and cooled, and so on. The purpose of this invention is toanticipate such variations in processes, and make the machine applicableto all kinds of coatings and finishes for this class oi work..

While but one form of the invention is indicated in the drawings, it isnot desired to limit this ap plication 'to such form or construction,other than limited by the prior art, as it is appreciated that otherconstructions might be made, employing the same principles and comingwithin the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

accepts the sheet materials in rolls adjacent to the said 1. A machinefor the coating of metal sheets comprising in combination, means forpropellin and guiding sheet metal in continuous lengths, and forvertically disposing the width dimension of same, and a plurality ofpressure sprayers for coating the sheet metal on both surfacesindependently of each other, means for dividing the sheet intopredetermined lengths after said coat,- ing, and means for preheatingthe material before spraying, and for automatically welding additionalplate material at predetermined periods and for shearing the plate. 4

2. A machine of the class described for coating sheet materials incontinuous lengths. compris- 5 ing in combination, a coating arrangementadapted to spread coating substances on the surfaces ,of the sheetmaterials longitudinally across the 'entire length of same continuously,means for registering the sheet materials and said arrangement 20together operatively and a frame for supporting said arrangement andmeans, means on the frame for keeping the width dimension of said sheetmaterials vertical during its passage past said arrangement and fordirecting the travel of the 25 same in predetermined directions, meansfor. di-

recting the spreading of coating substances from the said arrangementthrough a plane angular to ment together operatively and a frame forsupto porting said arrangement and means, means on the frame for keepingthe width dimension of said sheet materials vertical during its passagepast said arrangement and for directing the travel of the same inpredetermined directions, 45 means for directing the spreading ofcoating substances from the said arrangement'through a plane angular tothe plane of the sheet materials but adapted to spread the substancesacross relatively broad areas on the sheet and in cooperation 50 withthe gravitational pull on the substances thereon, means on the frame fordelivering and receiving the sheet materials in rolls adjacent to thesaid arrangement, and means for connecting the sheet materials of erentrolls in continuous 65 lengths.

4. 1}. machine of the class described for coating sheet materials incontinuous lengths, comprising in combination, a coating arrangementadapted to spread coating substances on the surfaces of 60 the sheetmaterials longitudinally across the en tire length of same continuously,means for registering the sheet materials and said arrangement togethercperatively and a frame for supporting said arrangement and means, meanson the frame 65 for keeping the width dimension of said sheet materialsvertical during its passage past said arrangement and for directing thetravel of the same in predetermined directions, means for di-,

recting the spreading cf coating substances from 7 the said arrangementthrough a plane angular to the plane of the sheet materials but adaptedto spread the substances across relatively broad areas on the sheet andin cooperation with the gravitational pull on the substances thereon,j

ll meanson the frame-for delivering and receiving arrangement, and meansfor connecting the sheet materials of different rollsln continuouslengths, and means for guiding and supporting the sheet materials intheir travel by'the said arrangement,

means for tensioning the said sheet materials and t for giving same theoperative movement through sheet metal plate, comprising in combination,a

, frame, rolls on the frame for holding rolls of metal plate vertically.brake mechanism for controlling the movement of the rolls, means 'forconnecting plate from different rolls together for tying same into acontinuous ,panel, said means being mounted on the frame adjacent to thesaid rolls, a heat retaining'spraying chamber on the frame and disposedadjacent to the said-means having openings therein for the free passageof the continuous panel therethrough and adapted to enclose the panelpassing therethrough, sprayring means in the saidchamber, arranged todistribute coating materials under pressure on the surf-aces of thepanel, a finisher room disposed adj acent to the coating chamber onthe'frame and adapted to receive and enclose the said continuous panel,a dryen in the finisher room, means in the dryer for finishing thecoating Work on the plate,

gripping means for taking the panel plate and pulling same through themachine, said gripping means for attachment to the frame adjacent to thefinisher room, trimming means for shearing the plate passing from thedryer at predetermined times, and rolls for storing the plate passingfrom the trimmer to the same, and mechanism for operating the rolls,tacking device, gripping means, trimmer and spraying means forcontinuously coating the metal plate passing therethrough, and aplurality of guide means for directing the travel of the panel inpredetermined directions with its width dimension vertically disposedthrough the machine.

6. A coating machine for continuous panels of sheet metal plate,comprising in combination, a frame, rolls on the frame for holding rollsof metal plate vertically, brake mechanism for controlling the movementof ,the rolls, means for connecting plate from different rolls togetherfor tying same into a continuous panel, said means being mounted on theframe adjacent to the said rolls, a heat retaining spraying chamber onthe frame and disposed adjacent to the said means having openingstherein for the free pas-' sage of the continuous panel therethrough andadapted to enclose the panel passing therethrough, spraying means in thesaid chamber, arranged to distribute coating materials under pressure onthe surfaces of the panel, a finisher room disposed adjacent to thecoating chamber on the frame and adapted to receive and enclose the saidcontinuous panel, a'dryer inthe finisher room, means in the dryer forfinishing the coating work on the plate, gripping means for taking thepanel plate and pulling same through the machine, said gripping meansfor attachment to the frame adjacent to the finisher room, trim.- mingmeans for shearing the plate passing from the dryer at predeterminedtimes, and rolls for storing the plate passing from the trimmer to thesame, and mechanism for. operating the rolls, tacking device, grippingmeans, trimmer and sprayingmeans for continuously coating the metalplate passing therethrough, and a plu-- the panel inpredetermineddirections with its width dimension vertically disposed through theterialjcomprising in combination, a coating chamber for receiving thesaid material with its width dimension in a vertical plane of traveltherein and conserving its heat, coating means in the chamber disposedto-distribute coating material through the chamber and on the surfacesof the sheet material, said means being arranged to localize thedistribution at predetermined locations with respect tojhe chamber andthe sheet material and to collect any excess coating material that maynot be employed in coating the sheet material, said chamber beingarranged to permit the sheet material to be conducted through and out orthe same in a condelivery end 01 the machine, and means for pulltinuousmanner, and means, for keeping the sheet material taut and propelling itto the delivery end of the machine, and means for cutting the materialfor predetermined distribution, and means for supporting the saidchamber and means. 8; A machine for the coating oi flat sheet materialcomprising in combination, a coating chamber tor receiving the saidmaterial with its width dimension in a vertical plane of travel thereinand conserving its heat, coating means in the chamber disposed todistribute coating material through the chamber and on the surfaces ofthe sheet material, said means being arranged to localize thedistribution at predetermined locations with respect to the chamber andthe sheet material and to collect any excess coating material that maynot be employed incoating the sheet material, said chamber beingarranged to permit the sheet materialto be conducted through and out orthe same in a continuous manner, and means for keeping the sheetmaterial taut and propelling it to the delivery end 01' the machine, andmeans for cutting the material for predetermined distribution,- andmeans for supporting the said chamber and means, and means in preheatingthe material for the coatings to be placed thereon in thecoating-chamber. a

9. A coating machine oi the class described for the continuous treatmentof sheet metal panels passing therethrough, rolls for holding the panelmaterial in relatively long lengths, a tacking'device for connectinglengths or the panel material 5 together into ,continuous lengths, a.spraying means for receiving and enclosing the panel material therein,spraying or coating means in the ass-5,078

said means for distributing coating ;materials thereon acrossthe'paneL-a'flnishingroom .ior conditioning the coatings-placedmn theplate, grippersior pulling the plate wit its width dimension disposed ina vertical plane through the I first mentioned means, and room, and fromsaid rolls, 'a trimming machine for cuttingthe plate into predeterminedlengths aiter-coatinmlandto permit the distribution of. same to variablyplaced receiving rolls.

l0. A coating machine of the class described for the continuoustreatment of sheet steel panels in continuous lengths, comprising incombination, means for conveying sheet steel panls continuously, acoating chamber adjacent said means for receiving the panels, means forapplying coatings and finishes to the panels in the chamber, means fortacking the panels continuously together, and means for distributing thepanel material in predetermined amounts at the ing the material throughthe coating chamber under tension and for propelling the same to thedelivery end oi the machine, and means for preheating the panels justprior to coating and finishing and means for keeping the pane1 with itswidthdimension vertically disposed and unbent while passing through allof said means.

11. In a machine for coating steel plate, the combination of a pluralityof chambers for coating and treating the plate having restrictedopeningsin the walls thereof for the free passage of the platetherethrough but adapted to retain the coating and treating materialswithin the respective chambers; means for conducting the plate throughthe chambers under tension; and means for keeping the width dimensionsof the 'platevertical and unbent throughout, means' chamber, through theintervening chambers and,

thence out of the last chamber.

' l2. In'acoating machine for steel plate, the combination or a meansfor keeping the plate -vertically positioned and taut as it passes withits longitudinal dimension in a horizontal direction, a plurality ofsprayers facing the surfaces of the plate on both sides and adapted tocoat the suriaces indpendentlyin a predetermined manner, and 'means forspreading and securing the coating permanently on the surfaces, andmeans Ior keeping the plate ieeding continuously through the machine.

HARvnY M. BRAUC'I-IER.

